Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1195Murder · Co. Wexford · 8 Feb 1998

Gardaí conclude search in Killinick, Co Wexford, in Fiona Sinnott murder investigation

Fiona Sinnott, a 19-year-old woman and mother of an infant daughter, was last seen leaving Butler's pub in Broadway, Co Wexford, at about midnight on 8 February 1998. A motorist saw a man and a woman on the roadway near Kisha Cross at around midnight that night, with two young men in close proximity, but none of the four have come forward to Gardaí. The case was upgraded to a murder investigation in 2005, when a man was arrested and detained on suspicion of her murder and five other persons were also arrested and detained; all six were released without charge and no one has been charged to date. On 30 and 31 July 2025, Gardaí carried out a search and excavation operation in Killinick, south Wexford, using heavy machinery and drones, which concluded on Thursday afternoon without success. Her sister Diane said the family is heartbroken but will not give up, and Gardaí have renewed their appeal for anyone with knowledge to come forward.

  1. Reported31 Jul
    3 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Fiona Sinnott, a 19-year-old woman and mother of an infant daughter, was last seen leaving Butler's pub in Broadway, Co Wexford, at about midnight on 8 February 1998.
  • A motorist saw a man and a woman on the roadway near Kisha Cross, Broadway, at around midnight that night, with two males in their late teens or early twenties in close proximity, and none of the four have come forward to Gardaí.
Where
Fiona lived at Ballyhitt, Broadway, Wexford, at the time of her disappearance.
When
The search operation in Killinick, south Wexford, commenced on Wednesday 30 July 2025 and concluded on Thursday 31 July 2025 without success.
Investigation
  • Gardaí in the Wexford/Wicklow Division have carried out a sustained investigation over 27 years, collating thousands of documents and taking in excess of 500 statements of evidence.
  • The case was upgraded to a murder investigation in 2005, when a man was arrested and detained on suspicion of Fiona's murder.
  • Five other persons, three women and two men, were also arrested and detained in connection with the investigation.
  • All six arrested persons were released without charge, and no person has been charged in connection with the investigation to date.
  • Heavy machinery and drones were deployed in Killinick to carry out a full technical and forensic examination of the site.
Other details
Fiona's sister Diane said the family is heartbroken but will not give up, and Gardaí have renewed their appeal for anyone with knowledge to come forward.
45 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFiona Sinnott was 19 when she went missing 27 years ago. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatFiona was the mother of an infant daughter. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA motorist saw a male and a female on the roadway near Kisha Cross, Broadway at around midnight on the night of her disappearance. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo males in their late teens or early twenties were in close proximity to the male and female seen by the motorist. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereFiona lived at Ballyhitt, Broadway, Wexford at the time of her disappearance. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereFiona Sinnott lived at Ballyhitt, Broadway, at the time of her disappearance. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereShe was last seen in Broadway, Co Wexford. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereShe was socialising with friends at Butler's pub in the village of Broadway. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe road to Ballymore was closed in the village of Killinick during the search. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereAt the time of her disappearance, Fiona lived at Ballyhitt, Broadway, Wexford. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe operation in Killinick took place from Thursday morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenShe was last seen leaving Butler's pub at about midnight on 8 February 1998. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí commenced a search operation on open ground at a location in Wexford on Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe area will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí in the Wexford/Wicklow Garda Division have carried out a sustained investigation over the last 27 years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation team has discovered and collated thousands of documents and reports. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation team has taken in excess of 500 statements of evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSix persons were arrested and detained in connection with the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation continues to be led by a Senior Investigating Officer. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí concluded a search of a parcel of land in south Wexford as part of the Fiona Sinnott murder investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe search and excavation finished on Thursday afternoon without success. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHeavy machinery and drones were used to carry out a full technical and forensic examination of the site. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí upgraded their investigation to murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationSix people were interviewed in relation to the investigation and all were released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí commenced a search operation on open ground at a location in Wexford on Wednesday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationHeavy machinery and drones were deployed in Killinick for a full technical and forensic examination. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí confirmed they have concluded the search operation, with results not released for operational reasons. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have taken in excess of 500 statements of evidence over the years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationNone of the four people seen by the motorist have ever come forward to Gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe case was upgraded to a murder investigation in 2005. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationIn 2005, Gardaí arrested and detained a man on suspicion of Fiona's murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationFive other persons, three women and two men, were arrested and detained in connection with the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationNo person has been charged in connection with this investigation to date. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherRoad closures and local diversions will be in operation for the search. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA Temporary Restricted Air Space was put in place by the Irish Aviation Authority for the search area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherFiona was the mother of an infant daughter at the time of her disappearance. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA motorist saw a male and a female on the roadway near Kisha Cross, Broadway at around midnight on that night. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherTwo males in their late teens or early twenties were in close proximity to the male and female seen near Kisha Cross. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNone of the four people seen near Kisha Cross have ever come forward to Gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherFamily members met with Garda representatives at approximately 4pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFiona's sister Diane said the family is heartbroken but will not give up. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA motorist saw a man and a woman on the road near Kisha Cross at around midnight. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTwo males in their late teens or early 20s were also close by. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNone of the four people seen near the scene have ever come forward. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFiona's family gathered in Wexford on Wednesday amid the search. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Jul2025
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai conclude search for missing Wexford woman Fiona Sinnott as appeal issued

    Reports the conclusion of a search operation in Killinick using heavy machinery and drones, the closure of the road to Ballymore, a renewed public appeal, and provides background on the 27-year investigation including over 500 statements, six arrests, and the 2005 upgrade to a murder case.

    victim, Fiona Sinnott, 19, female, irish (judged from name)Fiona Sinnottsuspect, malesuspect, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, malesuspect, male
  2. 31 Jul2025
    Reportedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    ‘We are heartbroken’: Gardaí conclude search related to missing Fiona Sinnott in Wexford

    Reports the conclusion of a search and excavation operation in Killinick, south Wexford, in the Fiona Sinnott murder investigation, which ended without success. Includes a statement from her sister Diane and details of the forensic examination using heavy machinery and drones.

    victim, Fiona Sinnott, 19, female, irish (judged from name)Fiona Sinnott
  3. 31 Jul2025
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí investigating murder of Fiona Sinnott launch search operation

    Reports the commencement of a new search operation on open ground in Wexford, provides details of the 27-year investigation (thousands of documents, 500+ statements, six arrests), and renews the appeal for the four people seen near Kisha Cross on the night of the disappearance to come forward.

    victim, Fiona Sinnott, female, irish (judged from name)Fiona Sinnott